Outreach Ministries

At Willowbrook, getting involved and working for causes which promote our common good is as natural as breathing. As a congregation, we support activities and organizations that help relieve the plight of the homeless, the hungry, and the poor. In addition to financial support, we believe it is also important to give of our time and talents. When we work together, we become part of something that is bigger than ourselves. Willowbrook is an example of God’s love in action.

Ongoing support …

From funds we receive from designated giving and from our annual budget, our church supports local organizations who work with the homeless and the hungry, while also remembering international needs. Those organizations include:

– United Methodist Outreach Ministries’ New Day Center (UMOM)

– Wesley Community & Health Centers located at the Golden Gate Campus

– Justa Center

– Salvation Army – Sun City location

– St. Mary’s Food Bank

– Valley View Community Food Bank

– HART Pantry

– Habitat for Humanity (Central Arizona)

_ Prison Fellowship – Angel Tree Program

– United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR)

– Veterans’ Furniture Warehouse

 

Angel Tree Ministry

Angel Tree is a prison fellowship program. Each Christmas, we decorate a Christmas tree with the names of children whose parents are incarcerated. Gifts are purchase, wrapped and delivered to the child’s home. This simple act of love gives joy to families who might otherwise have little to celebrate.  In 2023, we will “adopt” 30 children.

Food Bank Support

Willowbrook collects food and funds the first Sunday of every month.  Food donations are given to the Salvation Army in Sun City for re-distribution while monetary donations are used to support Valley View Community Food Bank.  In addition, Outreach designates a portion of its annual budget to support  the West Valley Salvation Army Center, HART Pantry, and St. Mary’s Food Bank.

HART Pantry

HART (Helping At Risk Teens) Pantry provides weekend food bags to homeless teens who do not have enough food when they are not in school. HART also provides school supplies, graduation gifts and Christmas gifts to these teens.

Throughout the year, Willowbrook collects toiletries for HART.   In 2023, Willowbrook held “5th Sunday of the month food drives to benefit HART.  These food drives were very well received.  We continue to support HART’s Christmas gift drive by promoting the purchase of gift cards.

 

Habitat for Humanity

Each year, Willowbrook joins the Mighty United Methodist Coalition. This is a coalition of valley Methodist churches who join together to fund raise and build a Habitat home. Through the years, Willowbrook has helped build many homes in the greater Phoenix area. Our partnership with Habitat and the coalition is over 20 years old.

 

Justa Center

Justa Center provides life-sustaining resources, services and support to assist homeless seniors on their path back to housing.  The center provides services to these seniors without charge or obligation other than a commitment and desire to return to housing.

In 2023, Willowbrook volunteers prepared and served a hot lunch to Justa Center clients on a quarterly basis. In addition, throughout the summer, we provided brown-bag “Dinners-to-go” on a monthly basis.

 

Salvation Army

Designated donations underwrite our gift to The Army in support of their annual back-to-school clothing and school supply drive.

Annually, Willowbrook members participate in the Salvation Army’s Christmas bell ringing program. We usually ring the kettle bells the last weekend before Christmas.

 

Back-to-School Drives

For many years, Willowbrook has financially supported the Back-to-School clothing drive organized and administered by the West Valley Salvation Army. We continue to support that clothing drive. In 2021, as schools began to reopen, we expanded our Back-to-School drives by donating school supplies to UMOM’s New Day Center, Wesley Health Center’s Golden Gate location, and HART Pantry.

UMOM New Day Center

UMOM (United Methodist Outreach Ministries) New Day Center provides homeless and low-income families with food, shelter and tools to build a bridge to self-sufficiency. The New Day Center is the largest family homeless center in the state of Arizona.

Willowbrook participates in the annual fundraiser “Walk The Walk To End Homelessness”. In addition to sending a team of walkers, we are also a sponsor of the walk. At Christmas, we also sell UMOM Christmas/Tribute cards to provide funds to UMOM.

 

United Methodist Committee on Relief

The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) brings God’s hope, healing and renewal to people whose lives have been disrupted by war, conflict or natural disaster. UMCOR provides humanitarian relief and disaster response both internationally and domestically.

 

Wesley Community & Health Centers

Wesley operates two campuses; one in south-central Phoenix and one (Golden Gate) in the Maryvale area. They provide a variety of programs for children, youth, adults, families, and seniors. Their mission statement, “Together We Empower Positive Change,” is at the heart of all Wesley programs.

Willowbrook supports the Wesley Centers on an ongoing basis by financially supporting their outreach programs. As in previous years, we participated in Wesley’s back-to-school drive by donating school supplies and backpacks. During the Christmas season, Willowbrook “adopts” children from Wesley’s Golden Gate campus, and purchasing Christmas presents for them. Willowbrook will continue to support the Wesley programs in future years.